Colombia Update

From the Latin America Working Group

Many of the changes in aid to Colombia that activists, including many from DJPC, contacted their members of Congress about in 2007 became law when the president signed the all-rolled-into-one spending bill on December 26.

While still very far from perfect, the law makes some positive changes in U.S. aid and policy towards Colombia . The bill:

cuts military and police aid in the foreign operations bill by $141.5 million below what the President asked for, a 31% cut.

increases economic and social aid by $97.4 million, a 70% increase.

includes aid to strengthen human rights and protect victims of violence, including funding for investigation and prosecution of human rights abuses; witness protection for victims; investigation of mass graves; funding for legal representation of victims; and contributions to the UN Human Rights office in Colombia.

cuts aid for the inhumane and environmentally damaging aerial spraying program, and increases aid for alternative development programs.

ties human rights conditions to 30%, not just 25%, of military aid in the foreign operations bill.

includes $15 million for development aid for Afro-Colombian and indigenous communities; includes in the human rights conditions that the Army must respect the rights and territories of Afro-Colombian and indigenous communities; and restricts investment in oil palm development if it causes people to be displaced or environmental damage.

What wasn't achieved? Among other things, funding in the less transparent and less accountable defense bill, which also includes funding for counternarcotics programs, was not affected. While human rights conditioning was improved, 70% of military aid remains outside these requirements, and funding for aerial spraying continues.

But this legislation marks a real step forward , only made possible through the actions of those in support of peace and human rights in Colombia. To see the complete text of legislation or to read the blog entry by Center for International Policy's Adam Isacson, visit www.lawg.org .

Actions Taken Since September 2007

• Oct – Asked Senators Salazar and Allard to sign Senate Resolution 178 condemning the brutal murders of women and young girls in Guatemala and expressing sympathy for their families. To date neither Colorado Senator has co-signed this resolution.

• Oct – Asked Colorado Representatives to support House Resolution 618, bringing attention to the plight of Afro-Colombian communities and calling on the Colombian government to combat racial discrimination and protect Afro-Colombians from human rights violations. (See Advocacy update on Colombia in this issue for more information. )

• Nov – Wrote to Senator Salazar, thanking him for supporting the DREAM Act, which would enable high school graduates to obtain legal permanent residency upon completion of either two years college or military service. Unfortunately, the DREAM Act did not pass in 2007. Look for it again in 2008.

• Nov – Wrote to the Colorado delegation, requesting that they vote against the U.S.-Peru Free Trade Agreement citing the failures of NAFTA, which caused increased job insecurity, mass displacement of farmers, forced migration of populations, along with other concerns. Unfortunately, all Colorado Democrats and Republicans voted in favor of this agreement. Following the vote, we expressed our concern with these votes. We expect the Colombia and possibly the Panama Free Trade Agreements will come up for vote before the end of the Bush Administration. Keep a look out for ways to take action!

• Nov – Co-signed a letter delivered to Chipotle Mexican Grill by the Alliance for Fair Food, requesting that the company address human rights abuses of farm workers in the company's tomato supply chain and expressing disappointment that the company has thus far failed to take action to end degrading and inhuman conditions for these workers.

• Dec – Sent holiday cards to the Colorado delegation, reminding them that as they were enjoying the holidays, sadly there are more than one billion others around the world who cannot because of extreme poverty. Therefore, we urged them to co-sponsor the Jubilee Act which would expand eligibility for debt cancellation to 67 impoverished countries, provided they use the money to address extreme poverty.

• Jan – endorsed an open letter to the Guatemalan President Alvaro Colom Caballeros, demanding that the Government of Guatemala prosecute those who were intellectually and physically responsible for the massacre in the Spanish Embassy and the genocide in Guatemala , in accordance with national and international laws. The request also called for the government to ensure justice and respect for all the women and men who work in the construction of a tolerant, just and dignified new Guatemala .

• Jan – Sent a letter to Bechtel's CEO, Riley Bechtel, to express serious concern with the corporation's activities in Ecuador . The letter calls for Bechtel and its Ecuadorian subsidiary to address the demands and grievances of the residents of Guayaquil, including forgiveness of all residents' water debts and reconnection of water services for those whose access was cut due to an inability to pay, and to pay all fines and debts incurred during operations in Guayaquil.

• Jan – Asked the Colorado delegation to support the International Violence Against Women Act (I-VAWA), groundbreaking legislation that will reduce violence against women and girls worldwide. This is important to women in Guatemala , where over 3,000 have been murdered in unresolved and largely uninvestigated femicides . (See Mustard Seed issues: May 2007, September 2006, January 2004)